Liquid dispensing apparatus



Oct. 1, 1968 LAND|$ ET AL 3,403,820

LIQUID DI SPENS ING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Oct. 1, 1968 H. R. LANDIS ET AL LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1965 3,403,820 LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS H Richard Landis, Oak Lawn, Ill., and Stanley J. Grzych,

Schererville, Ind., assignors to Landis Tile & Manufacturing Corp., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 3, 1965, Ser. No. 452,799 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-61) This invention relates generally to an apparatus for dispensing a liquid and more particularly to an apparatus for pressurizing a container of liquid and allowing the liquid to be selectively drawn.

There has recently developed a demand for draft beer which may be stored and served in the home. Present draft beer systems involve the use of kegs which are sold pressurized and are thus strong and heavy in construction. The market, however, for home use preferably requires a small expendable container. To dispense the beer from the container there is needed an inexpensive liquid dispensing apparatus which has a source of high pressure gas to dispense the liquid. A separate gas source obviates the requirement of a prepressurized container thus allowing the use of lightweight containers. While this invention was developed to fill the above-described need, it will be apparent that it may be generally used for dispensing liquids of any type.

One object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for pressurizing a container of liquid from a high-pressure gas source and allowing liquid to be selectively drawn from the container under a constant pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the above-stated type including a simple regulating means to subject the liquid to a substantially constant preselected gas pressure.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the above-stated type wherein the gas source is in cartridge form and may easily be connected to the apparatus for operation and disconnected when expended.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the above-stated type which may be selectively but securely attached to the container so that the sealed fluid communication between the container and the apparatus may not be easily disrupted during operation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the above-stated type having a simple valve means for selectively opening and closing the liquid passage from the container to the spigot and which may be easily flushed out to prevent sediment from forming in the apparatus after it is used.

One more object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the above-stated type having a flexible gascarrying hose connecting said high-pressure gas source and said container interior so that upon a malfunction creating an over-pressure, the hose will burst at a lower pressure than the container bursting pressure and thus act as a safety relief valve.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the above-stated type wherein the bulk of the apparatus components may be formed of plastic material so as to minimize costs in material as well as manufacture.

For a better understanding of the invention together with other further objects thereof, reference should now be made to the following detailed description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a liquid dispensing apparatus being mounted on a cylindrical-shaped container:

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the liquid dispensing apparatus;

United States Patent ice FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the liquid dispensing apparatus shown mounted on a cylindrical-shaped container;

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational view of the liquid dispensing apparatus;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional side elevational view of the liquid dispensing apparatus taken along line 5-5 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a detailed sectional view of the fluid distribution housing;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a pivotal pinching element;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional side elevation view of a gas regulator;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the liquid dispensing apparatus valve means shown in the open position; and

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of the liquid dispensing apparatus valve means shown in the closed position.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a liquid dispensing apparatus 20 being mounted on a cylindricalshaped container 22. Container 22 has a frangible sealing element 24 centrally located in the flat end 26 thereof. As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the liquid dispensing apparatus comprises a base 28 having a liquid dispensing spigot 30 and a valve handle 32 mounted on its front face. The spout 34 of the spigot 30 is mounted with respect to base 28 such that when the base 28 is in a vertical position the spout is downwardly directed.

In FIGURES 4 and 5 there is shown the rear face of base 28 on which is mounted, generally, gas regulating means 36, a high pressure gas source 37, a fluid distribution housing 38, a fluid communication means or flexible hose 40 connecting the gas regulating means 36 and the housing 38, a second flexible hose 42 connecting housing 38 and rear portion 44 of a spigot 30 extending from the rear face of base 28 and means 46 for preventing fluid flow through hose 42. Base 28 is adapted to be secured over the flat end of a cylindrical-shaped container and held thereto by latch means including a ring 48 and over-center latch 50. As seen best in FIGURE 5, the interior lip 52 of the base 28 has a circumferential sealing dimple 54 which is positioned concentrically Within the securing ring 48 so that as the circumference of ring 48 is decreased by latch 50, the sealing dimple 54 will securely grasp container 22.

The fluid distribution housing 38 comprises a body 56 secured at one end to an extension 57 on the rear face of base 28. Disposed within body 56 are two fluid passages 58 and 60. The passages 58 and 60 are formed through one of the side walls of the body 56 to the center of the body and then along the axis thereof. The outer end of body 56 is formed with a sealing ring 62 thereon for sealing the housing 38 against the frangible sealing element 24 of the cylindrical-shaped container 22. Fluid passage 60 is formed with an increased diameter at its one end so as to receive a gas carrying tube 64 which is adapted to extend through frangible sealing element 24 into the liquid container 22. A liquid carrying tube 66 is concentrically mounted within gas carrying tube 64 and is connected at one end to fluid passage 58. As seen in FIGURE '3, the tube 66 is of greater length than tube 64 and is bent so that it is free and is in proximity to the curved side well of container 22. The passage 58 is connected to the flexible hose 42 for passing liquid from container 22 through tube 66 and passage 58 into hose 42. The passage 60 is connected to a hose 40 so that the interior of cylindrical container 22 is in fluid communication through tube 64 and passage 60 with hose 40. Since the tubes are concentrically positioned, only the larger diameter tube 64 need be sealed by frangible sealing element 24 so as to minimize any gas leakage from the container 22.

The gas regulating means 36 comprises a body 68 having an interiorly threaded chamber 70 for receiving a gas cartridge holder 72. Gas cartridge holder 72 contains a high pressure carbon dioxide gas source in a cartridge 74 having a head portion 76 and an opening in head 76 sealed by a frangible element. Gas regulator body 68 includes a cylindrical portion 78 within chamber 70 having a chamber 80. A sealing ring 82 is disposed on the inner surface of cylinder 78 and a cartridge piercing element 84 protrudes into the chamber 80. A chamber 86 disposed within body 68 to the rear of chamber 80 and valve means 88 mounted at the rear of chamber 86 including a valve stem 89 normally biased in a closed position and one end thereof abutting a flexible diaphragm 90. A stop element 92 is mounted on the opposite side of diaphragm 90 engaging a spring member 94. Another chamber 95 defined in part by diaphragm 90 is in fluid communication with chamber 86 when valve stem 89 is opened and a fluid passage 96 connects chamber 95 with outlet 98 which is in fluid communication with the interior of container 22. A spring mounted check valve 100 is positioned in passage 96 for preventing any liquid in container 22 from entering chamber 95 in the event that the gas in cartridge 74 is exhausted and the container is oriented so that liquid may enter tube 64.

Means 46 for preventing fluid flow through hose 42 comprises a first pinching element 102 mounted on base 28, a second pinching element 104 pivotally supported by base 28 and a cam element 106. The first pinching element 102 is fixedly mounted on one side of flexible hose 42 and the second pinching element 104 is movably disposed on the other side of flexible hose 42 and opposite first pinching element 102. The second pinching element 104 is supported by a frame 108 having an opening 110 therein through which flexible hose 42 passes. Frame 108 is connected to pivotal mounted element 112 within the lower portion 114 of first pinching element 102. Cam 106 is mounted on a shaft 108 rotatably secured in base 28 and having one end extending from the front face of base 28 to which is attached handle 32 and the other end extending from the rear face of base 28 and carrying cam 106. The cam 106 is secured to shaft 108 by means of a snap ring 116.

The liquid dispensing apparatus is secured to the liquid container from which the liquid is to be dispensed and operated in the following manner. Tubes 64 and 66 are inserted in the passages 58 and 60 of fluid distribution housing 38. Tube 66 is aligned so that the bent portion of the tube is in the same vertical plane as defined by the handle 32 and the spigot 30. The free end of tube 66 is forced through frangible sealing element 24 so as to extend within container 22 and the apparatus 20 is fitted over the flat end 26 of container 22 such that gas carrying tube 64 also extends into container 22. A latch 50 is secured so that ring 48 is tightened so as to firmly attach base 28 to the liquid container 22. A gas cartridge 74 is inserted into holder 72 and the holder threadably engages housing 68 of gas regulating means 36. As the holder 72 engages gas regulator body 68, the threaded advancement forces piercing element 84 to open cartridge 74 so as to produce a gas flow. In the absence of gas pressure in container 22 (and chamber 95), spring 94 normally biases diaphragm 90 so that valve stem 89 is in an open position whereby chambers 86 and 95 are in fluid communication. High pressure gas flowing from cartridge 74 will therefore fill chamber 95 from which the gas will flow past check valve 100 into container 22. The force of spring 94 is predetermined so that when the pressure chamber 95 reaches the desired predetermined pressure, such pressure will overcome the force of spring 94 forcing diaphragm 90 to a normal position so as to close valve means 88. When liquid is drawn from container 22, the gas pressure in container 22 will be reduced so as to create a pressure differential across check valve 100 partially exhausting chamber 95 causing spring 94 to deform diaphragm 90 which will open valve stem 89 allowing high pressure gas to refill chamber and container 22 to re-establish the predetermined pressure.

The liquid in container 22 is forced by the gas pressure through tube 66, passage 58, and into liquid carrying flexible hose 42. To dispense liquid from spigot 30, handle 32 is rotated so that the indented portions 107 of cam 106 are in contact with second pinching element 104. In this position, as shown in FIGURE 9, liquid is free to flow through hose 42 through spigot 30 and out of spout 34. To prevent fluid flow through tube 42, the handle 32 is rotated so that the high portion of cam 106 forces the second pinching element 104 against hose 42 so as to collapse the latter between pinching element 104 and fixed pinching element 102.

As liquid is removed from container 22, the gas pressure in the container will temporarily decrease but such pressure differential will be immediately restored through gas regulating means 36 so that the pressure within container 22 is maintained constant. When used for dispensing draft beer, as recommended by most beer manufacturers, the gas regulating means 36 will maintain a constant pressure of 12 p.s.i. Within container 22.

As seen in FIGURE 3, the liquid dispensing apparatus will be normally positioned such that the liquid container 22 will rest on its curved side during the dispensing operation and thus the bend in tube 66 when properly aligned will insure the removal of all of the liquid from container 22. When all of the liquid is dispensed, any residual gas in high pressure gas source 37 may be vented to the atmosphere and the cartridge 74 may be removed and thrown away. It will be apparent that the cartridge gas volume is suitably chosen with respect to the size of the liquid container, the desired pressure to be maintained within the container and other pertinent factors.

After using, the apparatus may be easily cleaned by removing tubes 64 and 66 and flushing out the liquid passage 58, flexible hose 42 and spigot 30. Unlike present beer dispensing apparatus, the simple valve arrangement of the present invention makes the return of the apparatus to the beer manufacturer for sterilization unnecessary.

The above-described embodiment of liquid dispensing apparatus is but the preferred form of applicants invention, it being contemplated the applicants be limited only by the appended claim.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for dispensing liquid from a cylindrical-shaped liquid container having a frangible sealing element centrally located in the flat end thereof, comprising in combination:

(-a) a circular-shaped base adapted to be secured to the flat end of the cylindrical-shaped liquid container having the frangible sealing element centrally located therein,

(b) means for detachably securing said base to the container,

(c) a spigot mounted on the outside surface of said base and a portion thereof extending through said base and protruding from the inside suface thereof,

((1) gas regulating means mounted on the inside surface of said base for maintaining a constant gas pressure within said container,

(e) a high pressure gas source mounted on the inside surf-ace of said base and in fluid communication with said gas regulating means,

(f) a distribution housing carried by the inside surface of said base having two fluid passages formed therein,

(g) a gas carrying tube extending from a first of said fluid passages through the container frangible sealing element into the container,

(h) a liquid carrying tube extending from a second of said fluid passages concentrically through said gas carrying tube and into the container, said liquid carrying tube being longer than said gas carrying tube and bent so that the free end thereof is proximate .a curved side wall of the container,

(i) a check valve in fluid communication with said gas regulating means,

(i) a gas carrying hose connecting said check valve with said housing first fluid passage,

(k) a liquid-carrying hose interconnecting said spigot portion protruding from the inside surface of said base and said housing second fluid passage,

(1) a first pinching element fixedly mounted on the inside surface of said base on one side of said liquid carrying hose,

(m) a second pinching element pivotally mounted on the inside surface of said base on the other side of said liquid carrying hose and opposite said first pinching element,

(11) a shaft rotatably mounted through said base and extending from both surfaces of said base,

(0) a handle mounted on the end of said shaft extending from the outside surface of said base, and (p) a cam mounted on the end of said shaft extending from the inside surface of said base, said cam being rotatable by manually turning said handle and thereby selectively moving said second pinching element against said liquid carrying hose with sufficient force to collapse said liquid carrying hose between said first and second pinching elements whereby liquid is prevented from passing therethrough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,571,433 10/1951 Fine et al. 222-182 3,195,788 7/1965 Wilson 222399 3,239,102 3/1966 Heydon et al. 222-399 X 3,240,392 3/1966 Nicko 222-82 3,243,085 3/ 1966 Wilson 222-399 X 3,291,343 12/1966 Tracy et al. 222-399 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,038,271 5/ 1953 France.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

F. R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUID FROM A CYLINDRICAL-SHAPED LIQUID CONTAINER HAVING A FRANGIBLE SEALING ELEMENT CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE FLAT END THEREOF, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A CIRCULAR-SHAPED BASE ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE FLAT END OF THE CYLINDRICAL-SHAPED LIQUID CONTAINER HAVING THE FRANGIBLE SEALING ELEMENT CENTRALLY LOCATED THEREIN, (B) MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID BASE TO THE CONTAINER, (C) A SPIGOT MOUNTED ON THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF SAID BASE AND A PORTION THEREOF EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BASE AND PROTRUDING FROM THE INSIDE SURFACE THEREOF, (D) GAS REGULATING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID BASE FOR MAINTAINING A CONSTANT GAS PRESSURE WITHIN SAID CONTAINER, (E) A HIGH PRESSURE GAS SOURCE MOUNTED ON THE INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID BASE AND IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID GAS REGULATING MEANS, (F) A DISTRIBUTION HOUSING CARRIED BY THE INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID BASE HAVING TWO FLUID PASSAGES FORMED THEREIN, (G) A GAS CARRYING TUBE EXTENDING FROM A FIRST OF SAID FLUID PASSAGES THROUGH THE CONTAINER FRANGIBLE SEALING ELEMENT INTO THE CONTAINER, (H) A LIQUID CARRYING TUBE EXTENDING FROM A SECOND OF SAID FLUID PASSAGES CONCENTRICALLY THROUGH SAID GAS CARRYING TUBE AND INTO THE CONTAINER, SAID LIQUID CARRYING TUBE BEING LONGER THAN SAID GAS CARRYING TUBE AND BENT SO THAT THE FREE END THEREOF IS PROXIMATE A CURVED SIDE WALL OF THE CONTAINER, 